Carpet trimmer



H. J. HILL ET AL 2,772,474

CARPET TRIMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I/vws/vToRs: HARVEY (A H/LL (/A CK MPETTY United States Patent CARPET TRIMMER Harvey LHill, Monterey Park,and Jack .W. Petty, Los Angeles, Calif, assignors to RobertsManufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,906

:9 Claims. (Cl. 30293) This invention relates to a carpet trimmer and,more particularly, to a carpet trimmer for accurately and easilytrimming the edge of a carpet into substantial parallelism with thesurface of an adjacent wall in a room or other structure in which thecarpet is laid.

It is an object of our invention to provide a carpet trimmer which isdesigned to be utilized to trim an edge of a carpet after it has beenfastened on an invisible fastening strip to provide a clean andaccurately cut edge which can be readily disposed in the space betweenthe wall surface and said fastening strip.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a carpet trimmerwhich includes a base plate disposable on the upper surface of a carpetto be trimmed and which has mounted thereupon a blade holder, said bladeholder being both vertically and laterally adjustable with respect tosaid base in order that carpets of widely different thicknesses may beadequately accommodated t by the carpet trimmer and to permit differentamounts of excess to be left on the edge of the carpet to permit saidedge to be wedged in the space between a fastening strip and a verticalabutment.

An additional object of our invention is the provision in a carpettrimmer of the aforementioned character of a blade holder which hasfixed to a lateral edge thereof guide means for engaging a contiguouswall surface and for accurately guiding the entire carpet trimmer inparallelisrn with said wall surface as an edge of the carpet adjacentsaid wall surface is trimmed or cut.

An additional object of our invention is the provision of a carpettrimmer of the aforementioned character in which the guide means thereofis designed to engage the contiguous wall surface at a point which isbelow the upper surface of the carpet and, in addition, is designed tomake only line contact with said wall surface to prevent extensivemartingthereof during the traverse of the carpet trimmeracross thesurface of the carpet whose edges are being trimmed.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a carpet trimmerwhich incorporates vertical locating or adjustment means which permitsthe height of the blade holder incorporated in said trimmer to be easilyand quickly altered to permit said trimmer to be utilized in making cutsof dilferent heights to obtain different amounts of excess at the edgeof-the carpet. Therefore, since the vertical adjustment of the bladeholder on the t trimmer can be accomplished with a minimum expenditureof time and energy, the mechanic is readily induced to make suchvertical adjustment thereof with the resultant improvement in thecharacteristicsof the edges trimmed by the utilization of the trimmerconstructed in accordance with our invention.

It is an additional object of our invention to provide, in a carpettrimmer of the aforementioned character, lateral 'or horizontaladjustment means which permit the blade holder of the trimmer to belaterally adjusted with respect to the base of said trimmer to permitthe carpetkWh lid- Patentetl Dee. i 1195f ice Ms as;

receiving slot and, more particularly, the space between the adjacentlateral edge of the base of the trimmer and the guide means supported onsaid blade holder to be adjusted into different positions of lateraladjustment to permit the edge of the carpet being cut to be easily fedinto the carpet-receiving slot of said trimmer.

Since in constant usage the blades of a carpet trimmer become dullandmust be replaced, we have provided in the carpet trimmer of ourinvention blade mounting means which facilitate the removal andreplacement of carpet cutting blades in the blade holder. Furthermore,we have provided in the blade holder at single retention means forretaining two blades in operative relationship with said blade holderand have provided, furthermore,

oppositely disposed slots communicating with the opposite ends of saidblade holder so that an edge of a carpet may be cut in either direction.By the provision of dual blades and dual slots in the blade holder, itis possible to utilize the carpet trimmer in making edge cuts inopposite directions and also facilitate the utilization of the trimmerby both right-handed and left-handed mechanics.

()ther objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, l is a perspective view showing a carpet trimmer constructed inaccordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partly sectional view taken from thebroken line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the blade holderadjusted in a different position of vertical adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken from the broken line 44of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view taken on the broken line 5--5 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view taken on the broken line 6-6 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional view takenin the direction of the arrow 7of Pig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on the broken line 8-8 ofFig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig, 1 thereof, we show acarpet trimmer Ml constructed in accordance with our invention andconstituted generally by a base 12. having a guiding and operatinghandle 14 secured to the upper surface thereof and a blade holder 16which is operatively secured to said base for movement therewith in amanner to be described in greater detail below.

The base 12 is of substantially rectangular configuration and isconstituted by an elongated, rectangular plate of metal having upturnedopposite ends 19 and being designed to be slid in contact with thesurface 21 of a carpet 22, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thebase 12 is provided adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof withlongitudinally spaced dimples 23, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 7 of thedrawings, said dimples receiving the heads of upwardly orientedfastening screws 24 which secure the handle 14 in operative engagementwith the upper surface of the base 12 and permit said base to belongitudinally shifted in engagement with the surface of the carpet 22to permit the carpet trimmer ill to be utilized to cut the edge 27 ofsaid carpet, while leaving a predetermined amount of excess on the edgethereof.

It will be noted that, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,th handle 14 is angularly inclined so that both a downward and lateralload may be imposed thereupon in order to urge the base 12 of thetrimmer downwardly and laterally to maintain it in optimum contact withthe surface of the rug 22. and to additionally maintain the blade holderand, more particularly, a

J guide 23 affixed thereto in optimum engagement with the surface of aWall 35) adjacent the edge 27 of the carpet being cut. It may be notedat this juncture that the carpet 22 whose edge 27 is shown in Fig. 2 inthe process of being cut by the utilization of the trimmer 19 of ourinvention is disposed upon a carpet pad 33 which is juxtaposed to aninvisible fastening strip 34 provided with upwardly directedcarpet-engaging fasteners 35. The edge of the fastening strip adjacentthe wall 30 is spaced a substantial distance therefrom to define acarpet edge-receiving space 37 into which the edge of the carpet, afterthe severance of superfluous material therefrom, is inserted.

Supported upon and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base12, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, are studs 40 Whoselower ends are welded or otherwise securely afiixed thereto. The studs40 are longitudinally spaced from each other and disposed adjacent theopposite end portions of the base 12. Disposed upon the studs 40 insuperimposed relation with one another, are substantially rectangularspacer plates 42 which are, as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings,provided with coincident openings 43 for the reception of the studs 40and which, when disposed in cooperative and superimposed relationshipwith one another, constitute the vertical locating or adjustment means44 of the carpet trimmer 10 of our invention.

Threadedly engaged upon the upper ends of the studs 40 are knurled nuts46 which serve to maintain the superimposed spacer plates 42 inoperative relationship with one another and with the base 12 of thetrimmer 10.

The blade holder 16 of our invention is disposable between any twoadjacent spacer plates 42, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of thedrawings, and is constituted, as best shown in Fig. of the drawings, bya substantially rectangular plate member 50 which is provided at itsopposite ends with laterally extending arms 51 defining stud-receivingslots 52 which engage the studs 40 extending upwardly from the base 12and which thus permit the blade holder 16 and, more particularly, theplate 50 constituting the same, to be laterally shifted with respect tothe studs 40 and the spacer plates 42 to dispose said plat 50 in any oneof a plurality of selected horizontal positions for a purpose which willbe described in greater detail below. At this point, it is worthnoticing that each of the spacer plates 42 is provided with a laterallyextending stabilizing segment 55 of substantially triangularconfiguration, said laterally extending segments serving to stabilizeadjacent spacer plates 42 in relationship to each other and alsoserving, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to stabilize thelaterally extending portion of the plate 50 constituting the bladeholder 16.

The plate 50 has integrally formed with the lateral edge thereofdisposable adjacent the wall surfac 30, as best shown in Figs. 1-4 ofthe drawings, a guide mounting arm 58 which is of elongated,semi-elliptical configuration and which has welded to the outer surfacethereof the elongated, semi-elliptical guide 28. As best shown in Fig. 3of the drawings, the elongated, semielliptical guide 28 and, moreparticularly, the elongated arm 58 upon which it is secured are disposedat an angle with respect to a vertical axis A-A so that the only linecontact is made between the lowermost edge of the guid 28 and anadjacent surface of the wall 30, as best shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. In this manner, the possibility of disfigurement of thesurface of the wall 30 by the guide 28 is materially reduced and,furthermore, since only the lowermost edge of the guide 28 contacts thesurface of the wall 30, any disfigurement will be concealed behind theturned-down edge of the carpet 22. It should be noted that the oppositeends of the guide 28 extend beyond the base 12 to permit said ends to beused to force the excess into the space between the strip and theadjoining vertical abutment by lifting the trimmer 10 at an angle. Theend of the base 12 urges the adjoining portion of the carpet inwardly tolock it more securely to the strip during the forcing action.

Oppositely oriented, carpet-receiving slots 60 are, as best shown inFigs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, defin d between the lateral edge of theplate 50 and the guide mounting arm 58 and the guide 28 itself.Therefore, the edge of a carpet to be cut can be disposed in either ofthe oppositely oriented slots 60 to permit the edge to be cut inopposite directions, for a purpose and in a manner which will bedescribed in greater detail below.

The blade holder 16 and, more particularly, the plate 50 constitutingthe same, support a pair of oppositely oriented rug cutting blades 62,as best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings. The blades 62 areangularly oriented with respect to a line normal to the longitudinalaxes of the slots 60 so that the cutting edges 63 thereof exert ashearing action on the edge of a carpet disposed in either of thecarpet-receiving slots 60. Each of the blades 62 is provided with alocating notch 65' adapted to receive a downstruck boss 67 provided inthe underside of the blade holder 16, said downstruct bosses serving,partially, to orient the blades 65 with respect to the blade holder 16and thus with respect to the oppositely oriented slots 60. Additionalblade locating bosses 69 are provided on the blade holder 16 which serveto accurately position the blades 62 with respect to the blade holder 16and the carpet-receiving slots 60.

In order to maintain the blades 62 in operative r lation with the bladeholder 16, a retainer 72 is provided, said retainer being constituted byan elongated leaf spring 74 which is secured intermediate its ends tothe underside of the blade holder 16 and which has its opposite endsoverlying the undersides of the blades 62 to maintain them securely inposition on the underside of said blade holder. It will be noted thatboth blades 62 are thus maintained in operative position by the actionof the single retainer means 72. However, when it is .necessary toremove either one of the blades 62, the edge thereof can be readilylifted against the bias of the spring 74 to permit it to be disengagedfrom the corresponding bosses 69 and withdrawn from its position on theholder 16. Subsequently, a new blade can be readily inserted in positionby inserting the rear edge thereof under the leaf spring 74 and pushingthe blade into position abutting the bosses 67 and 69.

The outermost ends of the blades 62 engage the upper surfaces ofinstruck blade supporting pads 76 provided on the inner side of theguide 28, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and alsounderlie the edge 77 of the elongated mounting arm 58 overlying theupper surfaces of said pads. Therefore, the pads 76 and the adjacentedge 77 of the mounting arm 58 provide retainer means for the outer endsof the blades 62 to prevent inadvertent upward or downward deflection ofthe blades and, furthermore, to prevent the carpet from being caughtbetween the end of the blade and the guide 28. It will be noted that thestructure of the blade holder and, more particularly, the retainer means72 and the locating bosses 67 and 69 thereupon serves both to accuratelyorient the blades 62 with respect to the carpet-receiving slots 60 andmaintain the major portions of the upper surfaces of the blades 62 inclose contiguity to the underside of the blade holder 16, thusmaterially stabilizing the blades and preventing the inadvertentdislodgment of the blades from engagement with the blade holder 16.

Provided on the underside of the blade holder 16 are adjusting means 80constituted by depending dimples 81 which serve as detents in a mannerwhich will be described in greater detail below. It will be noted thatin Fig. 5 of the drawings the dimples 81 at the outer ends of the plate50 are located in the arms 51 and are arranged so that their centers lieon essentially the same longitudinal axis, while the intermediate dimple81 is displaced laterally with relationship to the outermost dimples 81for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below. 3

Disposed in operative relationship with the blade holder 16 andtherebelow is a locking and locating plate 82, best shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings, and designed to be utilized in conjunction with the bladeholder 16 in a manner which will be described in greater detail below.The locking and locating plate 82 is of substantially rectangularconfiguration and is provided at its opposite ends with upturned fingergrip portions 83 which, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings,project beyond the ends of the spacer plates 42 and the blade holder 16to permit the locking and locating plate 82 to be grasped at itsopposite ends between the thumb and finger and raised to permit saidplate to be shifted laterally with respect to the superimposed spacerplates 42, in a manner which will be described in greater detail below.

The locking and locating plate 82 is provided with slots 85 in itsopposite end portions, as best shown in Fig. 6, which engage the studs40 and the open ends of which are oriented in the same direction as theopen ends of the slots 52 in the blade holder 16. Therefore, it isobvious that the locking and locating plate 82 can be laterally shiftedwith respect to the studs 40 and is nevertheless retained againstlongitudinal movement with respect to the base 12 by means of saidstuds. A plurality of elongated clearance openings 87 is provided in thelocking and locat ing plate 82 to clear the locating bosses 69 on theblade holder 16, thereby insuring that close surface contact between theupper surface of the locking and locating plate 82 and the under surfaceof the blade holder 16 will be maintained to prevent relative cockingmovement therebetween.

The locking and locating plate 82 is also provided with three groups ofdetent openings 89, the outermost two of the groups of detent openings89 being arranged symmetrically about a common longitudinal axis, whilethe intermediate one of said groups is displaced laterally with respectto the outermost two groups in a manner analogous to that in which theintermediate adjusting means 80 constituted by the dimples 81 is spacedlaterally with respect to the outermost dimples 81 in the blade holder16. The detent openings $9 in the locking and locating plate 32 areadapted to receive the dimples 81 in the blade holder 16 and thereforepermit the blade holder 16 to be located in any one of a plurality ofhorizontal positions with respect to the locking and locating plate 82.The significance of the lateral displacement of the intermediate dimple81 and the intermediate group of detent openings 89 in the blade holder16 and the locking plate 82, respectively, becomes apparent when it isconsidered that if all of the dimples tit and all of the groups ofdetent openings 89 were arranged on the same longitudinal axis, it wouldbe possible to mislocate the blade holder 16 with respect to the lockingand locating plate 82 by placing one of the outermost dimples 81 in theblade holder 16 in an outermost detent opening 89 misaligned withrespect to the other outermost detent opening 89 in which theotheroutermost dimple 81 had been located. However, the provision of thelaterally placed dimple 81 and detent openings 39 prevents suchmislocation since when such mislocation inadvertently occurs, theintermediate dimple 81 will not register with any one of theintermediate detent openings and, therefore, the outermost dimples 81and detent openings 89 must be longitudinally aligned in order toregister the intermediate dimple S1 with the intermediate detent opening8).

It is, therefore, readily apparent that by the provision of thecooperative detent dimples 81 in the blade holder 16 and the provisionof the spaced groups of detent openings 82 in the locking and locatingplate 82, it is possible to locate the blade holder 16 in any one of aplurality of horizontal positions with respect to the superimposedspacer plates 42, for a purpose which will be described in greaterdetail below.

A plurality of retention lugs 91 is provided on the underside of thelocking'and locating plate 82, as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings,said lugs being located in longitudinally spaced pairs and the distancebetween in, dividual lugs of a pair being equivalent to the width of aspacer plate 42 disposed beneath thelocking and locating plate 82 and,as a matter of fact, any one of the spacer plates 42. Therefore, theinner edges of the lugs 91 engage the lateral edges of the spacer plates42 and prevent the locking and locating plate 82 from beinginadvertently discharged or dislocated in a lateral direction frombetween any two of the spacer plates 42. In this manner, the locking andlocating plate 82 is engaged with a spacer plate 42 disposedtherebeneath so that relative lateral movement between the blade-holder16 and the locking and locating plate 82 will not result in inad vertentdislodgment of the locking and locating plate 82 with respect to thespacer 42 disposed therebeneath.

The relationship between the carpet-receiving slots 60 in the bladeholder 16 and the lateral edge 93 of the locating and locking plate 82is graphically depicted in Fig. 6 of the drawings wherein it is shownhow the edge93 of the plate 82 overlaps the inner edge of each of theslots 60. Therefore, the edge 93 of the plate 82 serves to limit theover-all effective width of the slots by its cooperation with the innersurfaces of the elongated mounting arm 58 and the elongated guide 28. Itis apparent, therefore, that relative movement between the elongatedmounting arm 558 and its associated guide 28 and the inner edge 93 ofthe locking and locating plate 82 determines the effective width of thecarpet-receiving slot 60 and that relative adjustment between the bladeholder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82 serves to move the:guide 28 and its associated mounting arm 58 toward or away from the edge93 of the plate 82 to narrow or widen the carpetreceiving slots 60. Theinner edge of the base 12 is directly below the edge 93 of the plate 82to maintain the edge being trimmed substantially vertical.

In order to facilitate the location of the blade holder 16 and itsassociated locking and locating plate 82, one of the spacer plates 42 isprovided with a different surface treatment, as indicated at 96in Fig. 8of the draw ings, and is located intermediate the other spacer plates 42to serve as an indicator whereby the optimum location of the bladeholder 16 may be visually determined. Therefore, if it is desired to setthe blade holder high in order to obtain a greater excess at the edge ofthe carpet 22, the blade holder 16 is located above the plate 96 while,if it is desired to set the blade holder'16 low to provide a smallerexcess at the edge 27 of the carpet 22, the holder 16 is set below theindicator plate 96.

The operation of the carpet trimmer 10 of our invention is as follows:In order to locate the blade holder 16 and its associated locating andlocking plate 82 in a proper vertical location with respect to the base12 thereof, the nuts 46 are loosened to permit relative movement betweenthe superimposed spacer plates 42 and the locking and locating plate 82is located between any two of the spacer plates. As previouslyindicated, the height of the blade holder 16 above the base 12determines the amou'ntof excess which will be permitted on the edge 27of the carpet 22 being cut and the spacer plates 42 thus serve as meansfor vertically locating the blade holder 16 and its associated lockingand locating plate 82. In making the proper selection of the height atwhich the blade holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82 are tobe disposed, the indicator plate 96 comes into play since, if a minimumexcess is to be obtained at the edge 27 of the carpet 22, the lockingand locating plate 82 and the blade holder 16 are disposed between anytwo of the spacerplates '42 below the indicator plate 96, while if agreater excess is desired, the plate 82 and the blade holder 16 aredisposed above said indicator plate.

After the locking and locating plate 82 has been lo cated between anytwo selected spacer plates 42, the blade holder 16 is inserted above thelocking and locating plate 82 but below the adjacent spacer plate 42, asbest shown in Figs. 1-3 of the drawings. If the carpet is a relativelythick carpet, the adjusting dimples 81 on the blade holder 16 arelocated in the first row of detent openings 89, as best shown in Fig. 2of the drawings, to maintain the blade holder in a position wherein themounting bar 58 and the guide 28 are located the maximum distance fromthe edge 93 of the locking and locating plate 82 to providecarpet-receiving slots 60 of maximum width. On the other hand, if thecarpet to be cut is only of moderate thickness, the dimples 81 arelocated in the intermediate row of detents 89, as best shown in Fig. 3of the drawings, to locate the edge 93 of the plate 82 a moderate orintermediate distance from the bar 58 and the guide 28. Therefore, theguide 28 and its associated locking bar 58 together with the edge 93 ofthe plate 82 determine the width of the carpet-receiving slots 60 andthus permit the width of said slots to be adjusted by the cooperationbetween the adjusting dimples 81 and the detent openings 89 in the bladeholder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82, respectively.

The manner in which the locking and locating plate and the blade holder16 may be adjusted in a relatively high vertical position with respectto the base 12 and above the indicator plate 96 is shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings and in this position a large excess will be permitted toremain on the edge 27 of the carpet 22 being cut. On the other hand, inFig. 3 of the drawings the locking and locating plate 82 and itsassociated blade holder 16 are disclosed as disposed below the indicatorplate 96 in a position in which a relatively small amount of excess willbe permitted to remain on the edge 27 of the carpet 22. Of course, theamount of excess that is permitted to remain on the edge of a carpetbeing cut is determined by a variety of factors such as the thickness ofthe carpet and the width of the space 37 between the lateral edge of theinvisible fastening strips 34 and the surface of the wall 30.

It is quite clear, therefore, that the superimposed spacer plates 42serve as a means for vertically locating the blade holder 16 and itsassociated locking and locating plate 82 in any one of a plurality ofvertical positions, while the relationship between the adjusting dimples81 and the detent openings 89 in the blade holder 16 and the locking andlocating plate 82, respectively, provides means for locating the bladeholder and, more particularly, the guide 28 provided on the lateral edgethereof, in any one of a plurality of selected horizontal positions. Bythe provision of such means, extreme flexibility of opera tion isobtained since it is possible both to select the desired excess on theedge of a carpet being cut and, furthermore, to accommodate the trimmerto be utilized with carpets of different thicknesses. Due to the factthat the width of the carpet-receiving slots can be easily and readilyadjusted without the dismounting of the blade holder 16 from engagementwith the superimposed spacer plate 42 and its associated locking andlocating plate 82, the width of the slots 60 can be easily altered topermit the mechanic utilizing the trimmer to adjust the trimmer toaccommodate various thicknesses of carpet.

It will be noted that, in order to accomplish the aforementionedadjustment of the width of the slots 60 after the blade holder 16 andits associated locking and locating plate 82 have been installed in apredetermined vertical relationship with respect to the base 12, it isonly necessary to release the nuts 46 so that the adjusting dimples 81may be released from engagement with the detent openings 89 in whichthey are located and be moved into registry with other detent openings89 in order that the width of the carpet-receiving slots 60 may bealtered.

When it is desired to trim the edge 27 of a carpet 22, the carpettrimmer 10 is positioned with the guide 28 adjacent the surface of theadjacent wall 30 and the trimmer 10 is then moved downwardly at an angle'to make an oblique cut in the edge 27 until the under surface of thebase 12 engages the upper surface 21 of the carpet 22. This initialoperation takes place some distance from the Wall which is disposed atright angles to the wall 30 because of the difficulty in inserting thetrimmer in close juxtaposition to the other wall. However, once theinitial out has been made, the direction of the trimmer 10 can bereversed and a out can be made at the opposite end of the trimmer in areverse direction to take care of that portion of the carpet whichcannot be accommodated by moving the trimmer 10 in a forward direction.This is a considerable advance over prior art trimmers and is possibleonly because of the provision of the oppositely oriented carpetreceivingslots and the associated blades 62.

As the carpet trimmer 10 moves along the upper surface 21 of the carpet22, it will be noted that the lowermost edge of the guide 28 engages thesurface of the wall 30 thus eliminating substantial frictionalresistance to the forward traverse of the trimmer and also eliminatingthe possibility of considerable disfigurement or marring of the surfaceof the wall against which the guide 28 is engaged. During the traverseof the trimmer 10, it will be noted that the angular orientation of thehandle 14 permits the base 12 to be easily and readily urged intouniform contact with the surface 21 of the carpet 22 and, furthermore,permits the guide 28 to be urged into even engagement with the surfaceof the wall 30 thus insuring that an even, accurate cut will be made inthe edge 27 of the carpet 22 being trimmed.

Another advantage of the trimmer of our invention is the fact that if itis desired to remove the blade holder 16 for any purpose whatsoever,such as the replacement of the blades 62 the locating plate 82 canremain in opera tive relationship with the spacer plates 42. After thedesired operation upon the blade holder 16 has been accomplished, theblade holder 16 can readily be reinserted into position on the uppersurface of the locking and locating plate 82. Furthermore, if it isnecessary to remove either or both of the blades 62, the operation canbe accomplished in a minimum amount of time.

We thus provide by our invention a carpet trimmer which is characterizedby extreme flexibility of operation in that provision is made foraccommodating carpets of various thicknesses and for varying the amountof excess left on the edge of a carpet being trimmed. In addition,simple means for adjusting both the vertical position of the bladeholder of the trimmer of our invention and for adjusting the horizontalposition thereof are provided, thus permitting such adjustments to bemade easily and in a minimum amount of time.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device for cutting a carpet laid on the floor of a room, thecombination of: a base engageable with the upper surface of the carpetand movable therealong in a first horizontal direction; carpet cuttingmeans including a blade holder and a blade carried thereby; a locatingmember for said blade holder; vertical adjustment means for rigidlysupporting said blade holder and said locating member on said base inany one of a plurality of vertical positions relative to said base; andhorizontal adjustment means for rigidly supporting said blade holder inany one of a series of horizontal positions relative to said baseextending in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said firsthorizontal direction, including interengageable detent means on saidblade holder and said locating member.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical adjustment meansincludes a vertical stack of spacers mounted on said base and betweenany two of which said blade holder and said locating member areinsertable.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical adjustment meansincludes a vertical stack of spacers mounted on said base and betweenany two of which said blade holder and said locating member areinsertable, said locating member having means thereon engageable withone of said spacers for locking said locating member against movement insaid second horizontal direction.

4. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality ofsuperimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holdingplate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said bladeholding plate having carpet-receiving slots extending from the oppositeends thereof and having blade means extending across said slots fortrimming the edge of a carpet inserted therein.

5. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality ofsuperimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holdingplate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said bladeholding plate having a carpet-receiving slot extending from an endthereof and mounting a blade extending across said slot for trimming theedge of a carpet inserted therein.

6. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality ofsuperimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holdingplate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said bladeholding plate having carpet-receiving slots extending from the oppositeends thereof and having fastener means thereupon for securing blademeans thereto across said slots with their cutting edges oppositelydisposed to cut the edge of a carpet inserted therein.

7. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality ofspacer plates secured to said base; a blade holding plate having a firstportion insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said bladeholding plate having a second portion spaced laterally from said spacerplates when said first portion is inserted between two of said spacerplates; and a blade carried by said second portion of said blade holdingplate.

8. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; stud means on saidbase; superimposed spacer plates secured to said stud means; a bladeholder having a first portion interposable between any two of saidspacer plates, said blade holder having a second portion spacedlaterally from said spacer plates when said first portion is insertedbetween two of said spacer plates; and a blade carried by said secondportion of said blade holder.

9. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; stud means on saidbase; superimposed spacer plates secured to said stud means; a bladeholder interposable between any two of said spacer plates; guide meanssecured to an edge of said blade holder, the ends of said guide meansdefining, in conjunction with said edge of said blade holder, and atopposite ends thereof, oppositely oriented, carpet-receiving slots; andblades carried by said blade holder and extending across said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,255,860 Courter Feb. 12, 1918 2,007,396 Howard July 9, 1935 2,310,838Helprin Feb. 9, 1943 2,411,927 Luke Dec. 3, 1946 2,601,183 Unsinger June17, 1952 2,607,115 Iovinelli Aug. 19, 1952 2,648,905 Hinsche Aug. 18,1953 2,666,986 Codianne Jan. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 283,458 GreatBritain Jan. 12, 1928

